LCQ18: Kai Tak Development Area
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Question:
There are views that the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), being the most-recently completed key facility in the Kai Tak Development Area, is developed on a world class scale with multi-functional positioning. The community hopes that the authorities will make use of the KTSP as a starting point to drive development of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT), the "Youth Post" hostel and even the entire Kai Tak area, and transform Kai Tak into a hub featuring diversification and integrated development of sports, culture, tourism and youth, by consolidating resources and facilitating cross-domain collaboration. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the specific plans in place to drive the co-ordinated development of the KTCT, the "Youth Post" hostel and the entire Kai Tak area centring around the KTSP, such as the specific measures in terms of policy formulation, resource allocation and cross-departmental collaboration;
(2) of the plans in place to improve the external ancillary transport facilities for the "Youth Post" hostel and the KTCT, so as to strengthen the connectivity of the two facilities with the KTSP, and facilitate the cross-district movement of tourists and members of the public;
(3) of the measures in place to promote business collaborations of the KTSP with the KTCT and the "Youth Post" hostel, so as to attract cross-location spending from tourists and members of the public, and foster the overall economic benefits to be brought to the Kai Tak area;
(4) of the plans in place to make use of technology to consolidate resources of the KTSP, the KTCT and the "Youth Post" hostel, so as to offer seamless guided tours and proposed itineraries to enhance the overall experience of tourists and members of the public, and to provide consolidated information on the activities to be held at the KTSP, thereby promoting cross-facility interactions; and
(5) of the strategies in place to build a distinctive cultural brand of Kai Tak, with the KTSP as the core, integrating the tourism flows of the KTCT and the creative energy of the "Youth Post" hostel, so as to enhance the cultural uniqueness and the international appeal of the district?
Reply:
President,
The Kai Tak Development Area, spanning a total planning area of over 320 hectares, features a mix of community, housing, business, tourism and infrastructural uses. The Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) and "Youth Post" hostel are all situated in the area. The KTSP is the largest sports infrastructure project in Hong Kong's history, which boosts sports development and injects impetus into related industries such as recreation, entertainment and tourism, and mega-event economy. The KTCT is an infrastructure built for berthing large cruise ships, bringing cruise passengers to Hong Kong from around the world. To expand spaces and network for youths, the Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address announced that the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) will convert the Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility into a youth development facility, which includes setting up a "Youth Post" hostel and creating spaces for youth cultural, arts and sports exchanges, with a view to promoting mutual exchange among Mainland, overseas and local young people, and creating spaces to stimulate creativity.
In consultation with the Development Bureau (DEVB), the HYAB and the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Dr Hon Starry Lee is as follows:
(1) and (3) In preparing the work plans for the KTSP and the KTCT, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) will consider how the two major infrastructures could complement each other, with a view to creating synergies by fully leveraging the respective facilities.
The KTSP provides Hong Kong with diversified as well as the largest and state‑of-the-art venues for hosting various sports and entertainment events and offers a one-stop sports, leisure, catering and shopping experience for citizens and tourists. With its official commissioning on March 1, the KTSP will become a new hub for hosting major sports and entertainment events, creating favourable conditions for further promoting the mega-event economy. The KTSP will attract tourists to spend in Hong Kong by hosting various large-scale sports, culture or entertainment events, and provide cruise passengers with more options for onshore activities. Hotels in the vicinity of the KTSP will also offer an additional choice of accommodation for travellers (including cruise passengers before or after their voyages). The CSTB, in collaboration with the cruise industry through the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), has also developed a new shore excursion itinerary in Kowloon East covering the KTSP, the "Live out the Cinematic Charm of Hong Kong" Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In Exhibition being held at AIRSIDE shopping mall in Kai Tak, Kowloon Walled City Park, Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden, offering tourists with a greater variety of shore excursions.
On the other hand, the CSTB will further use the KTCT for other commercial purposes, such as conventions, exhibitions and activities. In particular, we hope to utilise spaces within the terminal during non-peak season when fewer cruise ships are at berth, with a view to elevating the function of the KTCT as a cruise terminal for all. Specifically and amongst others, through the HKTB, the terminal has been selected as the venue of the prestigious global cocktail award ceremony "The World's 50 Best Bars" scheduled to be held in October this year.
In respect of "Youth Post" hostel, the HYAB issued a tender document on December 20, 2024, to select, through open tender, a suitable organisation for operating the youth facility under a short-term tenancy. The HYAB is assessing the tenders received, including proposals from applicant organisations on how they will set up and operate the youth facility. The HYAB expects that the assessment and award of tender will be completed in the first half of 2025, and the concerned facility will progressively begin its operation within 2025. The HYAB has required the applicant organisations to submit, in their tenders, proposals on how to operate and utilise "Youth Post" hostel. Upon the award of tender, the HYAB will further discuss with the awarded tenderer on ways to better utilise "Youth Post" hostel and other relevant facilitation and publicity measures, including collaboration arrangements between the awarded tenderer and relevant government departments and/or organisations, with a view to promoting mutual exchange among Mainland, overseas and local young people as well as youth development. The CSTB is also in close communication with the HYAB regarding the collaboration between "Youth Post" hostel and the KTCT. After the tender is awarded, we will further connect the awarded tenderer of "Youth Post" hostel with the respective operators of the KTCT and the KTSP fully commissioned recently to explore further opportunities.
In addition to the KTSP, there are a few large retail facilities within the Kai Tak Development Area near Kai Tak MTR Station. A harbourfront promenade will also be constructed connecting the KTSP and the KTCT, not only providing a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour, but also clusters of retail and dining outlets. The CSTB will channel operators of the concerned facilities to explore ways to provide greater convenience and enhanced experience to cruise visitors, boost business opportunities of the KTCT, and attract citizens and tourists to the area. Seizing the opportunities brought by the gradual intake of nearby residential developments, the CSTB will invite expression of interest for the whole ancillary commercial area and rooftop park of the KTCT to revitalise the spaces in the KTCT. Interested vendors and organisations are welcome to submit feasible proposals including but not limited to conventional retail business.
(2) Currently, there are four franchised bus routes and one green minibus route servicing the KTCT, connecting Kai Tak MTR Station, a number of MTR stations in the vicinity, the West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station, as well as the Yau Tsim Mong area. The franchised bus services concerned also connect the KTCT with the KTSP, facilitating intra-district travel by tourists and citizens. "Youth Post" hostel under planning is adjacent to the KTCT. The Government will build a pedestrian crossing between the two facilities to facilitate the use of relevant public transport services by residents and visitors of "Youth Post" hostel.
The Transport Department has already planned to introduce two new franchised bus routes servicing the KTCT, i.e. Citybus Route 20X and Route 22S, providing express services to Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui direct and connecting services to and from the Kai Tak MTR Station respectively. They will come into service at an appropriate juncture subject to the progress of development and population intake of the Kai Tak Runway Area. The Government will continue to closely monitor the development progress of various projects in the Kai Tak Development Area and plan appropriate public transport services to meet the travelling needs of the public and tourists.
Moreover, the TLB is implementing the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak (the Project) in full swing for connecting the Kai Tak former runway area to the Kai Tak MTR Station, thereby strengthening connectivity of the residential and commercial developments, tourism, culture and recreation, sports and community facilities within the area, as well as the connection with the railway network. The Project proposes to have stations at the KTCT (adjacent to "Youth Post" hostel), Kai Tak Sky Garden, the proposed Kai Tak Metro Park, the KTSP and Kai Tak Station Square, etc, enabling the citizens and tourists to access various parts and facilities along the Kai Tak former runway area. The TLB targets to invite tender for the Project in the second half of 2025 for awarding the contract in 2026.
(4) As one of the four strategies set out in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry 2.0, the Government will strengthen the promotion of smart tourism through the use of information technology, such as electronic platforms, big data and artificial intelligence (AI), to further enhance the smart level of tourism services. More smart elements will also be added to tourist attractions to provide tourists with a more convenient, efficient and user-friendly travel experience. On integration of tourism resources, the HKTB will enhance the one-stop travel information platform, Discover Hong Kong, to provide tourists with more comprehensive, reliable, and up-to-date travel information, including attractions, dining, activities and merchant offers. The aim is to offer tourists a seamless digital experience throughout their journey from itinerary planning, visiting Hong Kong to returning to their place of residence. The HKTB will also develop a Live Travel Map on Discover Hong Kong. Tourists can access the website using a mobile device or desktop computer, and obtain real-time travel information and recommendations covering different parts of Hong Kong (including the vicinity of Kai Tak) by entering keywords or selecting the relevant categories of information. In addition, the HKTB will kick start preliminary development of the Smart Itinerary Planner. The first phase will include integration of travel information, development of a back-end system, and training of an AI model to verify the accuracy of its answers. In the long run, a customised itinerary planning tool based on age, interests and travel purposes will be developed to provide personalised itinerary suggestions.
On the other hand, the operator of the KTSP will provide visitors with one-stop services through its mobile app, including promotion information on leisure and catering options as well as various events. The CSTB will continue to work closely with the operator, relevant departments and the HKTB, with a view to further enhancing visitors' experience.
(5) The DEVB has adopted a series of visual identity elements to represent the Kai Tak Development Area, effectively conveying the design concept of the entire development. These elements include the slogan, logo, typography, colour scheme, and barcode pattern associated with the "Current of Vitality" theme. They are applied to construction site hoardings and integrated into the architectural designs of various projects to establish a clear connection with the Kai Tak Development Plan.
These visual identity features have been implemented across various projects, such as the Kai Tak Fire Station at Cheung Yip Street, the sewage pumping station at Prince Edward Road East, as well as various public street facilities and recreational amenities, including rain shelters, roadside benches, trash bins, bicycle racks, and information poster stands.
The DEVB has also established a set of design guidelines to ensure that relevant development projects can incorporate these elements into public facilities during the detailed design phase. This gradually brings the "Current of Vitality" design concept to life across the Kai Tak Development Area, creating a unified connection throughout the area. The goal is for residents or visitors to immediately sense this visual connection and develop a sense of belonging as soon as they enter Kai Tak. This aims to make the Kai Tak Development Area and its surroundings a visually cohesive space that embodies a consistent brand identity.
Ends/Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:18
Issued at HKT 15:18
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